Auditing Specialist
Sadara Chemical Company
Total years of experience :21 years, 11 Months
I have joined Sadara as Auditing Specialist in the internal audit department, reporting to the Audit Manager. My main responsibilities in this role include the following:
• Plan, organize, supervise and execute audit assignments in accordance with IIA standards.
• Conducting risk assessments.
• Leading audit teams to conduct financial and operational audits.
• Preparing audit programs for the assigned audit areas.
• Planning, executing and reporting of the audit assignments and special reviews including fraud examinations.
Promoted as the Manager (Head) of the department from Internal Auditor position, I report directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the CEO. I am ensued with the following responsibilities in my current role:
1. Managing the Internal Audit Department at the Group level.
2. Selecting audit areas and functions from the audit universe based on risk assessments using the risk/ control matrices and discussion with higher management.
3. Establishing risk based audit plan for the group.
4. Supervising the execution of financial and operational audits, preparing reports and discussion of the observations at the highest level (senior management, audit committee).
5. Ensuring that audits are conducted following the best practices with continuous effort to comply with IIA Standards and Code of Ethics.
6. Follow up of management response, action plan and time lines.
7. Under my supervision, operational audits were conducted for various group entities for the first time in the history of the Company, highlighting inefficiencies and areas of improvement in operations.
8. Keeping the audit committee up-to date with the progress of the audit department against the yearly audit plan, significant issues noted and their resolution.
My career in the internal audit started when I moved to Saudi Arabia to work as Internal Auditor in a listed joint stock manufacturing company, having operations in the Middle East, Europe and North Africa. I joined the audit department as the leading auditor when the department was in its early formation stages. This meant that I was involved in establishing policies & procedures of the audit department and setting the working standards. My main responsibilities in this role were:
1. Planning the audits, execution of the field work and reporting to the Chief Internal Auditor.
2. Conducting risk assessments with the help of risk/ control matrices.
3. Preparing audit programs, designing audit methodologies and preparing clear and concise working papers to achieve audit objectives and support audit conclusions.
4. Preparing audit reports containing audit observations, risks & implications and recommendations.
I moved to Schlumberger as my first job in the industry after over 4 years in practice. My primary responsibility was to act as a focal point between operations and finance to provide timely and accurate financial information for decision makers. Typical tasks are outlined below:
1. Preparing P&L and BS and related notes for the assigned business segment on monthly basis
2. Completing monthly closing cycle according to global deadlines with zero tolerance.
2. Preparing annual business plans and quarterly rolling forecasts for the assigned business segments
3. Analysing the revenues and costs for variances
4. GL maintenance
I joined PwC as an entry level auditor and progressed through various positions such audit junior, semi-senior, senior and supervising senior. During my work with PwC I conducted audits of various large multinational, local listed and non-listed companies according to the International Standards of Auditing and PwC audit methodology.
I received formal trainings in audit basics and was regularly involved in learning activities organized by the firm. A brief overview of my tasks are outlined below:
1. Preparing/ updating the planning file
2. Filling out the risk assessment questionairres and discussion with audit managers and engagement partners.
3. Preparing clear and concise working papers, properly cross referenced to achieve audit objectives and support audit conclusions.
4. Reviewing the audit work performed by staff auditors when I was leading the field work.
5. Discussion of audit matters with client management and firm managers and partners.
6. Ensuring preparation of financial statements under IFRS as locally adopted.
Qualified CIA from the IIA